Poll: Bury St Edmunds, Framlingham, Orford and East Bergholt among the best places to live in Britain

A terrific total of four Suffolk towns have been named in the top 101 Best Places to Live in Britain by The Sunday Times.

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Bury St Edmunds, Framlingham, Orford and East Bergholt all earned a place in the list, making Suffolk the best-represented county in East Anglia.

The guide combines data and statistics such as crime rates, house prices and school performance with the knowledge and expertise of locals to rank towns by their desirability.

Those areas selected were deemed to offer the best quality of life to the widest number of people, and included a positive community spirit, good local shops and services and attractive outdoor spaces.

All four of the Suffolk towns also featured historical settings.

Bury St Edmunds is most famous for its glorious cathedral and Abbey Gardens. Yesterday Councillor Robert Everitt, who is a cabinet member for Bury St Edmunds in the borough council, said he was “delighted” with the recognition the town had received.

“Unique heritage aside, I think that Bury is blessed with many wonderful partnerships who work with the borough council to make the town a beacon of success in the region - Bury in Bloom, The Bury Society and Our Bury to name just a few,” he said.

Framlingham is old enough to be mentioned in the Domesday Book and is built against the backdrop of the 12th century Framlingham Castle.

When he heard the ancient town was also one of the best in which to love, Suffolk Coastal District Councillor Christopher Hudson said: “I agree with them. I’d put it in the top 10. It deserves it’s place and it’s a jewel in the crown of Suffolk. We have got to make sure we don’t destroy what we’ve got.”

While Jenny Stockman, Chair of the Framlingham Business Association, added: “I think it’s really positive that we’re in the top 101 places to live.

“It’s not just a place for people to sleep, it’s a good place to bring up a family. We’re continually building on the town so we’re always moving forwards.”

The beautiful town of Orford is well known for Orford Ness, a shingle spit on which is situated the renowned, if imperilled, Orford lighthouse.

Tim Sunderland, co-owner of the Crown and Castle in Orford, agreed whole-heartedly with the compilers of the list.

“On a day like today it’s amazing,” he said. “We have got the castle and the ness, two very historical places in the town.

“Orford has got history to it. Businesses within it are thriving and it’s got a huge community spirit.

He added: “And there is also the peace and tranquillity of it.”

East Bergholt, the birthplace of John Constable, rests in the heart of the landscape which he made famous.

Mike Theeman, chairman of East Bergholt Parish Council, said: “I’m delighted with the news, it’s a great place to live, drink and eat, has great schools and a village shop and above all is blessed with exceptionally friendly residents.

“The facilities for exploring Constable’s legacy down at Flatford are also a delight.”

Dramatic increases in the average age of people in Suffolk have been highlighted in a report which reveals that in some areas nearly one in 10 are expected to be aged 85 or over in the next two decades.